Stories from 28 February 2006
Costa Rica: Political Ethics, New Tax Bill
Bob Glass says that the political party, PAC has clarified its ethics code. Professional blogger, gambler, and former Washington Secretary of State candidate, Jacqueline Passey is not happy with a new tax bill.
Paraguay: “No One in Paraguay Likes Football”
Bob is looking everywhere for a Paraguayan football-loving blogger, but so far has had no luck.
Venezuela, Bolivia: Latin American Conferences in US
Ben Dangl invites readers in Vermont to attend the “Winds of Change in the Americas” conference on Sunday, March 5th while Venezuelan, Miguel Octavio informs his readers of a talk by Professor Javier Corrales on “Chavez and the Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism,” which will take place in Boston tomorrow evening.
Albania: Dajti Mountain Cable Road
Anna of annasblog writes about skiing in Montenegro and taking a recently installed cable road to Tirana's Dajti Mountain.
Belarus: Elections and the Atmosphere of Fear
Tobias Ljungvall writes about the beginning of the election campaign in Belarus, the backlash against the opposition, and the atmosphere of fear reported by Gunnel Arbin, a Swedish journalist who has recently traveled to Belarus. Among the scare techniques used by the regime is a new article in the criminal...
The Balkans: Current Events and Stability In The Region
Mat Savelli of Roma Roma and a commenter named Owen discuss implications of the impending lawsuit against Serbia and other issues relevant to the region's stability.
Ukraine: Pre-Election Observations
Less than a month before the election, Oleksandr of Messages From Canada assesses Ukraine's major political parties’ presense on the Web and their platforms: he's unsatisfied and bored with what he learns. LEvko at Foreign Notes discusses campaigning styles of the three major parties and predicts an increasing support for...
Albania: Cell Phone and Electronics Market in Tirana
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man In Tirana visits local markets selling mobile phones and electronics (many of which are either stolen or fake), doesn't buy anything, and is “thankful” for being “wealthy enough not to have to choose between going without or going illegal.”
Albania: Dogs and Garbage in Tirana
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man In Tirana writes about the city's garbage disposal problems – and the locals’ dislike of stray dogs.
Albania: Tirana To-Do List
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man In Tirana posts a Tirana To-Do List: “Experience the last outpost of post-communist chaos while you still can.”
Peru: Reliabiligy of Peruvian Polling
Fabiola Bazo has a pdf file of the latest national poll just five weeks before Peruvians elect a new president. Un Lobo en Perú points out that “in the recent past, opinion polls have proven to be notoriously bad guides to electoral behaviour.”
Indonesia: Presidents Day
I'm your huckleberry feels democracy has given a better choice of presidents to Indonesia.
Malaysia: Learning Language
On rosesnchaos’ Livejournal blog, she talks about how she feels her English has deteriorated because of the hodgepodge of Chinese, Malay and English she hears around her: “It's the speech of lay society, but it's just so common here in Malaysia, even among educated folks. Speaking proper English will come...
Malaysia: More Plagiarism
Malaysian blogger Kenny Sia is experiencing tulan (read his post to see what it means): He's discovered someone named Vivian Chew submitted a photograph he took to a local newspaper and won some money. “BLOODY HELL! Who is this Vivian Chew? Makes me wanna chew Vivan Chew.”
Singapore: Leap Backward
Singaland senses in the latest government budget a step backward for Singapore: “The most telling sign is the decision to build 2-room flats for sale. The government had stopped building two- and three-room flats for sale in the 1980s as Singaporeans became well off and wanted to live in bigger...
Singapore: Missing Singaporeans
Littlespeck.com wonders where are all the missing Singaporeans. The number of new registered voters has risen slowly, despite a rising population, leading to the conclusion that many Singaporeans are going overseas to work, study or do business.
Vietnam: Visiting Pagodas
Our Vietnamese God describes visiting pagodas in Vietnam. “Food served at pagodas is usually good, really healthy but a wierd thing is that sometimes they make it into animal shapes, which I'm still confused about.”
President Bush Goes to India and Pakistan
President Bush Goes to India and Pakistan